Edward MacFarlane, 77, of Mexico dies

Monday

Apr 22, 2013 at 12:01 PMApr 22, 2013 at 12:03 PM

Obituary published April 22, 2013 in The Mexico Ledger

Mr. Edward (Ted) Kerwin MacFarlane, 77 years, passed away Friday, April 19, 2013. Funeral services for Mr. Ted MacFarlane will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Mexico United Methodist Church with Rev. Karen Taylor officiating. Visitation with the MacFarlane family will be from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at Pickering Funeral Home in Mexico, Mo. Interment will be at East Lawn Cemetery. Ted MacFarlane was the son of Mr. John Lincoln MacFarlane and Mrs. Estamae (Evans) MacFarlane. He was born on August 22, 1935 in Pueblo, Colo. He met Miss Beverly Clark, a MHS business teacher, in 1963. They were married June 14, 1964 and would celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary this coming June. Ted was proud of his two children, Mr. Brian Clark Kerwin MacFarlane and Dr. Bronwyn Dee Marie MacFarlane.Ted is survived by his wife, Mrs. Beverly (Clark) MacFarlane, his daughter, Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane; his brother, Mr. J.D. MacFarlane of Denver, CO; his sister in law, Mrs. Janet MacFarlane; his niece, Mrs. Jennifer Portillo (David), and his nephews, Mr. John MacFarlane (Patty) and Mr. Andrew MacFarlane (Jennifer). The youngest of three siblings, Ted was a member of the Pueblo Demolay Masonic boys fraternity and delivered several newspaper routes. He grew up working in the Pueblo Standard Refractories Plant which his father managed. He also carried and delivered distilled water bottles to businesses. He enjoyed the Rocky Mountains. He was educated in Pueblo public schools where his father was president of the school board. He graduated from Centennial High School in 1953. A top student in his class with scholarships, he attended Swarthmore College in Philadelphia, PA; and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla with a Bachelors of Science in Ceramic Engineering in 1957. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and he sang in a barbershop group. He earned a master's of science degree in Ceramic Engineering from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina in 1959. He worked for Gladding-McBean during the summer in California. With an American Refractories fellowship, his doctoral work was in the field of solid state physics. He was recruited by A.P. Green Industries, the world's leading international refractories company, headquartered in Mexico, MO in 1959. Ted MacFarlane lived a life full of friends and superb accomplishments. At the tender age of 30, he was promoted as the youngest plant manager for A.P. Green Refractories, Inc. to supervise manufacturing productions across southern Ohio. In 1965, Ted was promoted from the Mexico plant to the Oak Hill and Jackson, Ohio plants as apprentice to the plant manager. In 1967, Ted became the plant manager and became widely known as the go-to expert for generating and leading the highest manufacturing productivity in refractories plant operations in the world. In 1975, Ted was promoted to manage the Remy Philadelphia and Pennsylvania plants which produced specialties in the refractories industry. In 1979, Ted returned to the company international headquarters of A.P. Green Refractories, Inc., located in Mexico, Mo. During Ted's 40 year career, he managed over eight refractories plants across North America for the world's leading international refractories company, A.P. Green. As a technical expert and leader, Ted developed improved processes and products. He helped many refractories plants improve their functioning, efficiencies, and productivity and traveled to additional A.P. Green plant operations including Lehigh, Utah; Little Rock, Ark.; Alexandria, Egypt; and others. He was recognized by the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla as a young outstanding alumni individual and received an honorary degree.Ted was an accomplished musician and a fine organist who enjoyed playing upbeat melodies for community events. Ted was a member of Pueblo, CO Presbyterian Church. He attended Mexico United Methodist Church. Ted's civic leadership included: founding board member and Director, Mexico-Audrain Ambulance District Board; City Councilman, Jackson, OH; Ted held all of the offices for the Mexico Pachyderm Club including President (3 terms), Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer (repeating many offices many times); Election Committee Man for Mexico Precinct 1B; member, Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce (2008-2013); member, Mexico Kiwanis Club; 4-H Project Leader for Rocketry (1980-1993); and member, Mexico YMCA in which he volunteered with leading the Mexico YMCA Bingo night. In recognition of the support and service provided by Ted and Beverly MacFarlane to the Audrain County Pachyderm Club, the Missouri Republican Party, and the national Republican Party, they were recognized by the Missouri Republican Party in 2010 for their civic contributions. Ted arrived in Mexico, Mo. in 1959 as a young engineer and he was involved in a young group in Mexico called the Jeffersonian Republicans, a group of young guys who enjoyed talking politics and was a forerunner of the Audrain County Pachyderm Club. In 1979, when Ted and Beverly MacFarlane moved back to Mexico, Mo. and they joined the Audrain County Pachyderm Club, as young active civic leaders. Ted continued to provide civic leadership in the community as an elected official. Ted was elected and served as a director to the newly formed Audrain County Ambulance District when AMC chose to no longer cover this service. He contributed important insight in helping the Audrain County Ambulance District become independently full functioning and self-sufficient.Ted had a passion for civic involvement and firmly believed in the responsibility and duty of citizens to contribute to a highly functioning democracy. Ted contributed his individual talent, personality, expert skill set and collective team-work in co-leading a strong and respected family. We were lucky to have the continuing support and service of Ted MacFarlane in our community and across our country.In addition to his interests in engineering and manufacturing, other special interests and abilities included politics, automobiles, home improvement, and music, Ted enjoyed travel and visiting with friends. He was a skilled player at the bridge card game. He taught his children about fixing mechanical problems and learning how to figure out solutions. He was artistic and he could sing, dance, play multiple musical instruments, recite poetry and song lyrics including American musicals and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. He was a constant student of history, especially the American Civil War. He enjoyed reciting verse from Ogden Nash with friends of similar interest. He was a very good listener. Ted was preceded in death by his son, Mr. Brian MacFarlane; his sister, Elisabeth (Joanne) MacFarlane; his parents; and his in-laws, Mr. L.E. Clark and Mrs. Marie Clark.Memorials and contributions in Ted MacFarlane's name can be made to the Mexico United Methodist Church, the Mexico Presbyterian Church, the Mexico YMCA, the Audrain County Historical Society and Firebrick Museum, the Mexico Presser Performing Arts, Audrain County 4-H Foundation, or the Caring Bridge communication website. Written tributes may be made online at pickeringfh.com.

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